260 Rem Vs. 6.5-06

I never hunted with it but rather built an across the course rifle around the Sierra 140gr HPBT Matchking 20 years ago. 31" very heavy stainless barrel with 1-7.5" twist launched the 140 at 3150 and the 155 at 3050 and if you did your part they stayed sub-minute at 1000 yards. Powder was 65 grains AA-8700 and I put close to 9000 rounds through it over 3 years with no loss of velocity or accuracy. Granted it was a 15.5 pound match rifle not a hunting rifle. Slow powder, long barrel and long heavy bullets will allow you to reach way out there accurately.

This thread has been running a long time and I assume a decision has been made by the originator but I have been shooting a 6.5 Gibbs since the 60s and still get half inch groups. The Gibbs holds a little more powder than the 6.5 06 AI. I have never used a heavier than 125 grain bullets and now I am down to 95 grain at 3600. Killed a lot game with it. Have not shot an elk with it but I would not hesitate too.

This thread has been running a long time and I assume a decision has been made by the originator but I have been shooting a 6.5 Gibbs since the 60s and still get half inch groups. The Gibbs holds a little more powder than the 6.5 06 AI. I have never used a heavier than 125 grain bullets and now I am down to 95 grain at 3600. Killed a lot game with it. Have not shot an elk with it but I would not hesitate too.

I shot a 6.5-06 A.I. for approx 30 years and killed at least 25 bull elk with it as well as deer, black bear and moose. Some of the elk were killed out to 600 yds. I recently rebarreled it with a 6.5 Sherman which holds about 1 gr. more powder than the Gibbs but has a better neck. Both are outstanding rifles as I'm sure the Gibbs is......Rich

Funny this post keeps coming up again and again. After posting this I decided to go with 6.5-06 but now have ultimately decieded to do with a 280 AI. I had a hard time deciding between the 6.5-06 and 280 AI but the 7mm selection and 280 versatility (bullet weight that are usable) won out. With the 6.5 I would top out at 140 gr bullets and if it didn't shot those well I would lose the ballistic atvantage with the 6.5 bullets. With the 280 I have more choices high or low and the 162 amax with a BC of .625 (i think) is better than anything the 6.5 can do. Also I think the 280 AI is just a little more versatile than the 6.5 and will give me the ability to reach a little farther out.

I shot my 6.5 Gibbs for 40 years , but built a 280 AI when I decided to do a moose hunt in Canada. It did a good job on a 50 inch moose with a 160 grain Barnes X . With all the good bullets available now the 6.5 probably would have done it . You will enjoy the 280. You might want to consider the Hornady GMX 139 grain. The lighter, Higher BC solids make up with speed what you give up in weight and shoot flatter.

You might want to consider the Hornady GMX 139 grain. The lighter, Higher BC solids make up with speed what you give up in weight and shoot flatter.

If you don't need lead-free bullet I would take a pass on the GMX. Nothing wrong (that I know of) with the GMX but you can get the same BC out of a 140 gr Accubond (.485 vs .486) or much higher BC out of 160 gr accubond ( .531) for a bit cheaper. The Hornady interlock 154 (.523) are also high quality, high BC bullets for 7mm and are cheaper still. Accubonds and Interbonds are available in 6.5mm

Give me the 6.5x47Lapua!! This is the most accurate cartridge I've ever put to my shoulder....bar none!! And that includes over 50 years of NRA HP shooting! It has plenty of power for for whitetail/mulie/elk IMO!!